The Castle

The Castle

Micro-Housing Enshrined in the United Nations Covenants is the right for everyone to have access to `adequate housing'. Having a place to call one's home - or indeed one's castle - is a critical link to resources such as education, employment and healthcare. If you do not have an address or a roof over your head you can also lose other human needs such as security, pride and self-confidence.

The Castle is a project being undertaken by Youth Futures in partnership with University of Tasmania (UTas) - School of Architecture. The Castle intends to provide a realistic and affordable alternative to mainstream housing. At the same time we want to challenge the trend of homes becoming larger and larger. Is it possible that size is one of the reasons that housing in Australia is more unaffordable than ever before?

The Castle provides micro-housing options for young people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or otherwise excluded from mainstream housing.

UTas is responsible for the design aspect of the Castle. Castle 2 (C2 - the second prototype) was designed and built in 14 days by 24 students. The current prototype C5 is the fifth prototype for a small stand-alone dwelling; the building system will be capable of being replicated in a factory environment.

The Castle must be mobile, allowing swift deployment into backyards + driveways; for short, medium or longer-term placement. It must be able to sidestep onerous planning requirements, and be able to be offered as a 'flat-pack' to minimise the cost of freight to further afield areas.

The Castle is envisaged as being available as an autonomous dwelling; with photovoltaic solar energy, composting toilet and LPG cooking & hot water. It must use minimum material, allowing reduced weight and cost, with furniture and fittings used as structural stiffening. It must consist of mass producible elements capable of being reconfigured.

Every version of the Castle is to be unique; to become home for one full time resident + guests. It must make a small volume of space feel bigger, be affordable and extendible.